Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday (December 10) announced the fixtures for Team India’s home series against England.
The much-awaited marquee series will kickstart with a four-match Test series for Anthony de Mello Trophy, the first of which will be played in Chennai from February 5. Chennai will also host the second Test while the newly built Sardar Patel Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the remaining two Test matches.
🚨 #INDvENG schedule announced 🚨
— ICC (@ICC) December 10, 2020
🔹 Four #WTC21 Tests: 5 February ➜ 8 March
🔹 Five T20Is: 12 March ➜ 20 March
🔹 Three CWC Super League ODIs: 23 March ➜ 28 March
Are you ready? 😍 pic.twitter.com/7m0rWPsTBC
Motera, the largest cricket stadium in the world, boasts of state of the art facilities and a seating capacity of 110,000. It will host India’s second Day/Night Test match at home after the huge success of India’s first-ever pink-ball Test that was played in Kolkata last year.
Ahmedabad is expected to turn pink when it hosts the third Test on February 24 under lights. The iconic Test will be followed by the five-match T20I series, which will also be held in Ahmedabad.
The last leg of the tour will feature ODIs and all three matches will be held in Pune. The BCCI has restricted the tour to just three venues due to the current pandemic situation prevailing in the country.
Honorary Secretary of BCCI Jay Shah said, “The BCCI prioritises health and safety of both teams and will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the tour is held adhering to all safety protocols agreed by the BCCI and ECB medical teams.”
“Both Boards have worked closely to put together an exciting series that promises to provide high octane action between two powerhouses of world cricket. This will be India’s first bilateral series at home since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the home season will bring back joy to cricket fans,” Shah added.
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CEO of ECB Tom Harrison said, “International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and always attracts significant levels of interest from fans around the world.”
“We have been delighted with the planning that has been undertaken by the BCCI to ensure the three venues in Chennai, Ahmadabad and Pune will be ready to host international cricket in a bio-secure environment and look forward to working closely with them over the coming weeks to finalise those plans,” he added.
“The prospect of becoming the first international side to play at the magnificent Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad adds an extra dimension to the tour and I know will be something that is a highlight for both the players and management,” Harrison further added.
The complete fixtures of the tour are –
England’s tour of India, 2020/21 – Test series
1st Test – February 5-9 (Chennai)
2nd Test – February 13- 17 (Chennai)
3rd Test – February 24- 28 (D/N) (Ahmedabad)
4th Test – March 4 – 8 (Ahmedabad)
England’s tour of India, 2020/21 – T20I series
1st T20I – March 12 (Ahmedabad)
2nd T20I – March 14 (Ahmedabad)
3rd T20I – March 16 (Ahmedabad)
4th T20I – March 18 (Ahmedabad)
5th T20I – March 20 (Ahmedabad)
England’s tour of India, 2020/21 – ODI series
1st ODI – March 23 (Pune)
2nd ODI – March 26 (Pune)
3rd ODI – March 28 (Pune)
